Buying guide

Choosing your sunglasses

The real reason for buying sunglasses

Sunglasses are a lot about style, but don’t forget the real reason for buying them. You don’t want the rays of the sun to harm your eyes with their UV. When the weather outside is bright, you need sunglasses to protect your eyes. Yes, you will still want a pair that looks stylish, but protection is a real asset that you should look for. Watch the UV index of the sunglasses you choose and make sure your activities won't require a higher one!

The right frame size is most important

If you have a small face, you need sunglasses with smaller frames and vice versa. The frame size is an extremely important consideration for buying sunglasses. There are three considerations to be made when choosing the frame.

Eye size – This is the horizontal distance between the outside and the inside edges of a lens.

Bridge size – This is the distance between the two lenses.

Temple size – This is the length of the arm or the ear piece.

Buy a light frame material

The frame material is also important for you to choose. There are many people who buy heavier lenses and they go through a lot of pain over their ears and on the bridge of their nose. Light metal frames are considered to be among the lightest and they are the most popular too. The other options are plastic, acetate, nylon and polycarbonate.

Look stylish in coloured lenses

You need to choose the colour of the lenses too. Please bear in mind that the darker colours don’t provide more UV protection, but yes, some of the colours are more suitable for adventure sports or other outdoor activities. This is where you may want to choose a darker lens. Otherwise, choosing the lens colour has a lot to do with your personal taste. Some of the popular colours include green, black, brown, amber or yellow, grey, blue, purple and rose. You can also consider lenses with mirrored coating.

Find out about the lens materials

Lenses can be made of different materials and it is important that you choose the right one. Glass lenses tend to be the clearest, but they are also the heaviest. If you want lighter lenses, then opt for plastic or polycarbonate lenses. If you want the clearest vision and also that your lenses are able to transition from indoor to outdoor mode, consider buying prescription sunglasses.

The lens technology in use

There are four different types of lenses in terms of lens technology. These are polarized, photochromic, gradient and double gradient. You must find out about these four types of lens technologies and make your choice.

Consider the evergreen styles

Most importantly, consider the style of the sunglasses. There have been some legendary sunglasses styles that still continue to rule the world of fashion. These includes aviators, wayfarers, horn rimmed, round rimmed, butterflies and shutter shades. You can never go wrong with these styles if you choose wisely.

Which sunglasses for which use?

Titanium is among the most preferred lens materials at the moment. While technically titanium comes under metal, it is still considered niche. Most of the titanium sunglasses fall under the category of designer sunglasses. Some of the most popular brands are Ray Ban, Maui Jim, Oakley, Prada, Emporio Armani and Ralph Lauren.

If you intend to spend a lot of time on the beach and around water, there are some specialized sunglasses available. These glasses not only protect your eyes from the harsh rays of the sun, but also add that extra touch of style to your looks. Some of the top names in this category are Maui Jim, Crap, Julbo Race, Kenneth Cole and Police.

If you are into skateboarding, there are some sunglasses that you should look at. These are Donner Skate, Ontario Skate and J. Crew R. T. CO American Standard. Bollé HURRICANE polarized sunglasses are tailor-made for you if you are into a lot of driving.

While most people opt for the standard lens colours, you can stand out in a crowd if you opt for a slightly uncommon colour. Lens colours like chocolate and copper certainly make you stand out. Chocolate lenses can be found in Jimmy Choo Lia Diamante Temple and Marc Jacobs Keyhole round sunglasses. Copper coloured lenses are more popular and the best brands include Fenchurch, G-Star, Kaenon, Lanvin and Karen Millen.

Even clear sunglasses can make you look stunning and stylish. Brands like Bollé, Electric, Sinner and Spy make colourless sunglasses and lenses. Just have a look at their models and you could be swept off your feet.